Lock switch



hb. e, 1923. y '1;,44464 .Ly cQoK ET AL.

' LOCK SWITCH Orig-lna-l-Filed Nov. 2, 19,20 5` sheets-sh'e't-l SHS 2.

20 eti/I5 l gli/wenken II. Cook c wimess E .F.Hinkle Feb. 6, 1923. ,44f4ii664 J. COOK ET l LOCK SWITCHv original Filed Nov. 2, 1920 5 sheets-sheet 2 Feb. 6, i923. g l 1,444,664

J. COOK ET AL LOCK SWITCH Original- Filed Nov. 2, 1920 5 sheets-sheet 5 Patented Feb., 6, i923.

*Y "2"? e' e e tliiiiiiaia stealth idle 'beati JOI-IN COCK .AND EMMT 2P. HINKLE, OF SANTA RITA, lNEW MEXllCO.

Application led November 2, 1920, Serial No. 421,364. Renewed .Tune Z3, 1922. Serial No. 570,380.

To all whom. t may concern.'

Be it known that we, JOHN Coon and Ensim l). HINKLE., citizens oit the United both residing at Santa Rita, in the couutj,v oi Grant and State of New Mexico, have invented neuv and useful improve ments in Lock Switches, of which the tollowing is a specification.

This invention relates to ignition switches for automobiles and` has for its objectl the provision ot an ignition control switch provided with locking means .whereby .the switch may be locked in open position so that starting of the automobile by an unauthorized person will be prevented, the device being 'furthermore provided with means whereby an' attempt to unlock the switch with an improper key will result in the sounding of an audible alarm such as a bell or horn which will apprise the public oi the tact that an effort is being made to steal the automobile.

An important Objectis the provision of a device of this character including a` slidable plate carrying contact members adapted to he brought into engagement with stationary Contact members interposed in the primary or secondariv wires of the ignition system, the stationary contact members bridging the Contact members on the movable plate wherebyv the ignition system will he in0perative when the plate is in one position.

Another object is the provision of a device ol this character in which means is provided tor automatically locking the movable plate in its circuit breaking position when it is moved. a( proper key being required for releasing the lock before'the movable plate can be moved 'to circuit closing position.

An additional object is the provision of a devicel of this character which will be comparativelv simple and inexpensive in manu- Jfacture. highly efficient in use, positive in action. durable. in service, and a general improvement in the art.

l/Vith the above and other objects and advantages in view the invention consists in the details of constructiouto be hereinafter more fully described and claimed, and illus` trated in the accompanying dra-wings in Wma Figure l is an. elevation of the device in position upon thedash of an automobile,

Figure 2 is a horizontal sectional'view through the dash showing the device in plan,

Figure :lisa rear elevation,

Figure 4 is a. front elevation of the hack plate, i

Figure 5 is van elevation of the intermediate fixed plate, showingA the side engaged by the movable plate, y

Figure 6 is van elevation of the other side ot the intermediate fixed plate,

Figure 7 is an elevation of theliXed plate carrying the lock actuating meansA and showing the side engaging the parts shown inFigure 6, I i i Figure 8 is an elevation of thevother side of the plate shown infFig'ure 7,

Figure 9 is an end elevation showing the key-hole end,

Figure l0 is a longitudinal sectionalview with the lock released.y y

Figure 11 is a longitudinal Vsectional yview with vthe lock engaged,

Figure 12 is a cross sectional view through the alarm contacts, Figure 13 is a detail sectional view showing the means tor holding the key `spindle in dii'i'erent positions,

Figure l/l is a fragmentary view showing the alarm circuit closed by yuse of an im'- proper ley, and i Figure l5 isl a diagram of the circuits. Referring more particularly to thedrawings the letter A designates a portion ofthe dash of an automobile upon which our device. indicated atlB, is secured by any suitable means.

ln carrying out our invention we provide a casingformedot top and bottom plates 9.0 between which are' secured intermediate and frontplates 21 andEZQ. 'llhetop and bottom plates' 20 are grooved upon their con- Vtronting faces rearwardly of ythe intermediate plate 2i, as shown at 23, and slid'aloly engaged within these grooves'is the hack' 4the primary or seconde Adjacent the recess 27 are contact screwsL 28 which extendV through the plate 24 and which are adapted to be connected With ay suitable source or' current 29. Adj acent the screws 28 the plate 24 is provided with shallow grooves or recesses 30. Adjacent one side, the plate 24 is `provided with a depression 31 and is also provided'centrally with a groove 82.

Secured upon the intermediate plate 2l upon the face thereof and disposed again the inovable plate 24V are transverselyY extending contacts 33 adapted to engage and bridge the pairs ofi' conta-cts 25. These contacts 33 held in place by suitable screws 34, the heads of Which are disposed in the central groove 32 in the plate 24. This of the intermediate plate 2i is also provided with spaced parallel. lon itudinal Agjfooves 35 receiving the'heads of the binding3 screws 26 which hold the contacts 25 in piace upon the plate 24. The provision oi the various grooves is to permit sliding movement oi the plate 24, as will be clearly understood. Secured upon this race ot the intermediate plate 2l is a leaf spring 36 having` a bent free end 37 adapted tolsnapinto the de' pression 3l in the plate 24 for holding' the plate 24 at one limit of its movement. cured upon the intermediate plate are spaced longitudinally eirtendingg` contacts engaging the pair oi screws 28m the-plate 24 and held. in place onfthe plate 21 bv,

screws 89 which have their heads disposed Within the grooves 30 in the plate 24. uit their free ends. these contacts i8 are bent laterall)7 and extend through hole-s4() in the plate 21 and through holes 4i in the plate 22. The pairs of these contacts will be hercinaiter described. The plate 2l is also provided With a rectangular `hole 42 throiigh which projects the latch bar to be herein after described and Which is adapted to register With the bolt receiving recess 27 in the plate 24.

Upon itsl opposite sine the plate 21 is provided With circular recesses43'within which are disposed the nuts for securing; the contacts 33. Between-the holes 40 is provided a longitudinal recess 44 Which coinrnunicates With vthe rectangular holes 42 and Within Which 4is pivoted, as shoivn at 45, a latch ineinber 46 having a lateral bolt end 4f? adapted to be projected throuojh the hole 42and into the recess 27 ior lockii'; the plate 24 against movement. The edges of said bolt end .47.are inclined, as shown at 48. The outer edge, that is the edge oppoinent with the longitudine. i, ...the 80 vplate 2l, for a purpose to he Secured Within the spindle 55 which ,ente lo the slot 53 and lrej-,hole s ot and rotatably ionnted upon S5 is a tunbler including` a di 5i' lie-.ving` rlianietricalljv epi :torined thereon and furthe? shank 59 having; flattened si( rllhis shank 59 has ornzed upon the end 9') thereof 'and extending toward the keyhole slot a lug` fr leaf spring' 58 is secured `vithina recess 64 in the plate and engages the tlattened sides 60 and Gl oiA the tumbler shanlr for hol i the tumbler in selected positions. A. con spring @osarrounds the spindle 55 and abuts, ao'ainst the disk portion 57 oi the tinnbler for iorcino; the thnibier normally outwardlj.T and the outwardnieren is limited bv engage- 10G nient oit the dislr portion with the leal? spring Vilhe plate 22 is provided with hole' adjacent th holes 4l and the pur-- pose oi this hole is to accommodate one oi the arms 58 ofthe tumbler when the saine 105 is rotated and ad ent the hole 6G the plato 22 is recessedN as li-own, to cull der 6T e eab-le bv the o 'i a eS imlimitintiv i o yement of the Bihler j uenibifr in one dfrection, the y o l'l fl enI mentioned arni 58 wi' y 66limitingits ven An i the other d tion, The bent ends o? the con which extend through the holes 40 aLid in the plates er l o1v in 2l and are disposed in ali nient with the arnis 58 on the tuin bei', 'for apurpf to be describa Used in conf niet-ion `with rn;l i key' designated' by the nuineral and coinprisingv a tubular'shanl 69 sliuably'er abley upon the spindle 55 and provid` l f slot 70 conforming-dy engae'eable upon tl' 1 lug on the tumbler vThe hey also c'ludes an inclined bit 4' rilhe operation oi the yice is as Follows:

With the parts constructed and assembled as above described and with the' contacts 25 interposed in the ignition circuit and the Contact screws 28 interposed in a circuit including the source current 29 and a 'l fi (l suitable alarm, in. the shown as a bell assuininl' tl'iat the autoinobile with which th e device is associated 2l wiil be in circuit the contacts "l5 can in engagement with the a :ts 33 on the intermedi,

' contacts serving` the bent end-ot 3b eno'og'es within the de pla 4e 211 "or holdings; the 1 accidental movement and e i operator ol the autoinoliile wishes line it .is nierely necessary the u on the projecting); end otthe pli li .e it longitudinally whereuponthe l Yat ie lc .Y spring 3G will ride out ot c -ion Sl and the recess 2T will resist-f r with the rectangular hole 4t2 in the whereupon the lateral end el? ot the 1 51, will be projected into the recess l thus locking the pla-te 9% with theconts 25 thereon out oit engagement with the ,in 'verse contacts lt is ot course aparent that upon initial inoveinent ot the ate Z-l the ignition circuit will be broken the engine stopped. The partsfwill reinain in this locked position until use made of the key 68.

ln order to unlock the device to perinit starting oit the engine. it is necessary to inthe key (5S through the key-hole slot '52, whereupon the tubular shank 69 of the key will engage upon the spindle 55 and the slot .70 in the key shank will engage upon the lun ot the tumbler. The operator then rotates the key a. quarter turn which results in the projection or the bit. 71 into the inner end oi'v the longitudinal slot 53. The operator then pulls the key outwariily where upon the bitl v7; will en'age the inclined tace 50 oi" the latch nieniber and consequently depress the outer end of the latch member which will result in withdrawal oi the lateral end d'7 "thereof 'from the recess 27. l.Viren this is done ,the plat-e @il may be slid longitudinally to bling' the contacts lthereon into engagement with thebridg'e contacts 253% and the circuit through the ignition s teni will be completed. lhen the plat is thus slid the bent end 37 oit the lea'i e operator thenpush the key inv., .rotate it to its original posit on.

und en withdraw it` Yroin the key-hole slot key the action is as l'ollows:

Ti" the key is used which locks the flot in soenk7 shank willen(V ,l end nieinber.y spring-pressed by the leat-` ot the lug 62 on the tumbler whereupon torcing;` of the key inwardly to perni-it turning thereof will result in'longitudinal rnoveinent ot the tumbler 56 upon the sp'idle 55, thc spring 65 being` compressed. This inv-:e j"

o. nioveinent of the. tumbler will result in engagement oi' the arins 58 with ends oi'. the contacts 238 which will close the therefore not be manipulated to e'fieetun lockino of the device.V It is therefore` seen that ainplevprotection is provided tor .preH

ventino' operation ofl the devce by anyone n@ Q other than the one possessing; the enact *ey necessary.

lf desired, a flange n'iay be provided at the key end of the device in order that. the

device may be positioned'through the dash i of an automobile and be disposed beneath the hood so as to be entirely outot the way and also invisible except :tor the key receiving end. Another possibility is that if lit is desired to nieve the automobile equipped with our device` in case of an emergency such as a tire or the like, we may wire connected with the alarin and with one spark pliug'`l` the connection be inade by the insertion oi sinall lfey or nail or the like7 into the key receiving opening; so as to close the circuit7 the automobile then beino; capable oiE being); run upon one cylinder onlywith the alarin sounding continuously From the 'foregoing description and a study ot the drawings it will apiiare'r-.t that we have thus provided an ignition switch which is readily operated by the proper person for switching on or oli the ignition circuit oil' an automobile engine and which is provided with e Y' a and positive ineans .for the protection oi the automobile against theft.

Vilhile we have shown and describedithe preferred embodiment ot our invention, it is or course to be understood that we reserve the right to niakesuch changes in the forni, construction, and arrangement ot parts `as will not depart troni the spirit of the invention or the scope ot the subjoin-ed claims.

l-lavino thus described our invention we is y a claim:

l. A device of the character described comprising a casing, a platemovable with'- in said casing, a plurality of spacedcontact, cerriedo-n the outer tace/ot said plate and interposed in tlie L internal combustion eiwine X ed plate l m w1- J v 1 *v iorniing puit or said ce ii contacts on'said'pined plate a ted to be engaged by and bridge said first named contacts, means for limitiupa l. of seid movable plaie, said movable plate being; provided with a recess, member pivoted vfitbin said lined plate and ino an ang iler end portion normally en- "bin said recess tor holdingl said 1c against movementIn -front plate. 'foi i a part oi said casing and provided in one end ivitli a key-liole slot7 and key disposable Within said slot and movable to release said latcli member trom engagement Within said recess.

2. A device of tlie character described comprisingv a casine* a sldable plate mounted therein ai c l) -npcontacts interposed in tbe ignition circuit of an automobile engine, lined contacts ivitbin said casing` and engageable by said first named contacts for closing tbe circuit through said igniiion system ivlien said movable plate is in one position, means for locking said movable pla-te in circuit breaking' position, key op erated means for releasing; said movable plate to permit movement thereofy and key operated means lo: sounding,` an alarm in the event ot tlie use or" a false key. 3. A device ot tlie character 'l (USS n `cribed comprising casmg'T plate. movable within said casing` and carryi C; contacts connected in tbe ignition system oi" anautomobile eigine, ized contacts ivitliiii said casing;1 en- 1 m .L r. gaefefiole bv seid lirst named contacts ,tery c, i

making .a circuit7 means 7^r limitingv move ment oi said slidable plaiea said plate being provided Witli a keeper recess aid casing' turtlier a tired pla rovided opted to ister violi said recess o fiirt 'ided `vitli a longitudi ce with said roted ambi-.n said hole, latch merl'. i

an angulo. end

,L last named recess and liavii adapted to be projected ir o recess the opposite edge ot said latch member being' V-sl1aped Wliereby to provide inclined faces, said casing tur-ther includ' e' a iront plate,

lest spring car ied by sain 'fron M engaging; one et tbe inclined trices ot said latch member for liorcin j latch member into sai-d keeper recess, said top plate being0 provided in one end with slot vvitb a key-hole slot enteringv tbereinto, a guide spindle Within said last n( ned slot in combination withL key en? geable upon said spindle ond rotatable ivlierebv to brinbit into eng nent with the btlier inclined tace or said latcli member whereupon out- Ward movement et tbe l y lll result retraction ot said latch member :trom said keeper recess.

el, A device ot the character described ineseei comprising a casing including a top plate,

`a fixed intermediate plate and a slidable ing said movable plate against movement in circuit breaking position.7 and means operated by the use ot' a Nfalse key tor bridgingsaid pair et contacts whereby to close said circuit.

5. A device ot the character described comprising; a casing including a top plate, a fixed' intermediate plate and a slidable back plate a plurality ot' contacts carried by said back plate and interposed in the ignition circuit of an internal combustion engine7 a plurality -oi contacts carried by said fixed intermediateplate and engageable by said lirst named contacts -for bridging' the latter, a pair of contact screws extending through said movable plate and interposed in. a circuit including a source or current5 a pair oit Contact embers secured upon said intermediate .tixed slate and always engaging said'contact screws, key releasable automatically locking1 means tor holding said movable plate against movement in circuit breakin of position, and means operated by the use or italse key r bridging said pair of contacts whereby to close said ein cuit, said m ans comprising' a spring` pressed membe mounted Within tbe top plate of tbe casing,l said top plate being` provided with lioles receivingextensions on said pair ont contacts, anc said spring-pressed member being` engageable by the end of the shank of a false key Wlierebyfsaid.member Will be moved into engagement with said eXtensions.

6. A device ot tlie character described comprising` casina@ a movable plate torming a part of said casing', plurality oit contacts carried by said movable plate and interposed in an ignition circuit. other contacts witliiii said casing; engageable by said iirst named co acts `whereby to bridge tbe same when said plate in one position7 a latch member :tor lioldin said movable plate normally in circuit breaking` position., a spindle Within said casingg said casing; be-

ino; provided ivitb a keyole slot adjacent ser spindlea a tumbler slidable and rotateludng a source of current, and e. ug' on seid tumbler in com. ation with e key havng a tubular shank engagea-ble upon said spindle and having a bit engageable with said latch member whereby to eect release of the same, said tubula Shank having :L slot engageable upon seid lug', nseften of a false keg,7 unprovded with auch e. set

arms engaggmg pas?? 01"' contee@ my aiescausng movement of Seid'tumbe with L JQHN come. EMME e. Hmmm 

